Venerable Gunna Tulku Lama Kalsang Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet, in Chogh Shi Sam in the Makham Zhong province. He was ten when he followed his father’s recommendation and became a monk. His father said that Lama Kalsang Rinpoche was born on an especially lucky and auspicious day. He was born on Saga Dawa Düchen, which is the day of birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Sakyamuni Buddha.
There are deep roots of Tibetan spiritual tradition in Lama Kalsang Rinpoche’s family. One of his grandfather’s brother also was a tulku lama in the Nyingma tradition called Ngolu Tulku Rinpoche. His uncle was the reincarnation of Kara Lama and Lama Kalsang Rinpoche himself is also a Tulku. At the age of 10 the Rinpoche took refuge from Gunna Penchen Rinpoche. After the refuge ceremony Rinpoche said to Lama Kalsang Rinpoche’s father that the young Rinpoche is the reincarnation of Gunna Khenpo Tsering Rinpoche.
Lama Kalsang Rinpoche has been studying in Gunna Sakya Monastery under the guidance of Gunna Penchen Rinpoche. At these times after he received the main basic teachings and initiations of the Sakya lineage he went to a four month long teaching series where he received Nyingmapa Lineage initiations and teachings called Rinchen Tenzo from Khalto Khenpo Jayam and Tulku Loga Rinpoche.
After then he travelled to the largest Tibetan Sakya Monastery, the Lhankam Chemo where he got the most important teachings and initiations, like Lam Dre, Lobshey, Tsogshey, Dhubtab Kuntue (Collection of Sadhanas), Gyude Kuntue (Collection of Tantras) and all Sakya lineage initiations and teachings from his root guru, Lama Loga Rinpoche. During the two years spent there Lama Kalsang Rinpoche went for the first longer Vajrapani retreat in the Natsal Palace, which was His Holiness Sakya Trizin’s previous residence in Tibet.
Lama Kalsang Rinpoche left Tibet in 1991 after a pilgrimage to the Kailash Mountain. They have been marching for 15 days carrying foods, clothes and all the necessary equipment.
In 1992 the Rinpoche arrived to Rajpur (Dehra Dun) where he met at first time personally with His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. Then in 1993 according to His Holiness’s advice he joined and continued his studies in the Sakya College together with the great Masters, His Holiness’s sons-Ratna Vajra, Rinpoche and Gyana Vajra Rinpoche and with many other Rinpoches as well. Lama Kalsang Rinpoche has been studying there for 9 years with the guidance of Khenpo Migma Tsering. Finally he received the title of Acharya (Geshe) and the Kachupa Degree, which is equivalent to a BA degree. Then he completed different retreats like Rig Sum, Manjushri, Vajrapani and Avalokiteshvara and the longest one was 6 months long.
During the nine years spent in Sakya College in 1993 through a three months period Lama Kalsang Rinpoche received Dhubtab Kuntue (Collection of Sadhanas), all the most important teachings and initiations of Sakya Lineage from his root guru, His Holiness the Sakya Trizin in Kathmandu in Nepal. In 1994 and 1995 he received Gyude Kuntue (Collection of Tantras), teachings and initiations of Sakya lineage from His Holiness in the Ngopa Monastery in Dehra Dun, India. In 1996 Lama Kalsang Rinpoche also received Lam Dre Tsogshey teachings and initiations of Sakya lineage from His Holiness in Sakya Centre of Rajpur in Dehra Dun, India and in 2001 he got Lam Dre Lobshey teachings and initiations of Sakya lineage from His Holiness in Sakya Dhu Kham in Dehra Dun, India.
In 2002 His Holiness sent him as a resident Lama first time to Malaysia and thereafter he served in Singapoore from 2005 for almost two years where he led the Sakya Community.
For the request of Sakya Tashi Choling in Budapest His Holiness designated Budapest, Hungary as next mission for Lama Kalsang Rinpoche to serve as resident Lama. He arrived to Budapest in October of 2006. The Rinpoche gives teachings and initiations not only in Hungary but in other European countries as well.
Tara Initiation on Pauenhof